Your Right to Know

Rep. Al Landis’ lead in the Ohio House’s 98th District race has been trimmed to just 14 votes
out of more than 47,000 cast, triggering an automatic recount and likely Democratic lawsuits over
the counting of provisional ballots.

Landis, a Republican, led on election night by 270 votes, and about 1,800 provisional ballots
were outstanding.

Democrats had commented that Josh O’Farrell needed to win about 60 percent of the remaining
votes to overtake Landis, and he actually won 59.6 percent.

Democrats anticipate litigation in the race, most likely aimed at the 110 provisional ballots
that were discarded for a variety of reasons. The district includes Tuscarawas County and half of
Holmes County in northeastern Ohio.

If Landis’ lead stands, Republicans will have 59 House seats, the same as they hold today. They
also await the counting of provisional ballots in Cuyahoga County, where Rep. Mike Dovilla,
R-Berea, led Democrat Matt Patten by 305 votes on election night.